Overview
Focusing on the frontline soldiers who fought for their tribes, their cities, their overlords and their countries-from the Ancient Greeks who repelled the invading Persians in the 5th century to the US Marines in action in Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, this visual history paints a compelling portrait of the frontline soldier through 2,500 years of history. The third in a series of illustrated military history books, following the highly successful Battle and Weapon, Warrior features vivid accounts of daily life, training, and tactics of the ordinary fighting man.Synopsis
Focusing on the frontline soldiers who fought for their tribes, their cities, their overlords and their countries-from the Ancient Greeks who repelled the invading Persians in the 5th century to the US Marines in action in Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, this visual history paints a compelling portrait of the frontline soldier through 2,500 years of history. The third in a series of illustrated military history books, following the highly successful Battle and Weapon, Warrior features vivid accounts of daily life, training, and tactics of the ordinary fighting man.
Richard Fraser - Library Journal
The first thing to note is that this is a beautiful book, with illustrations on every page; most are in color, and many are spectacular. The primary subject is the equipment of fighting men-members of both organized armies and warrior bands. Some of the images used are familiar, and others have been specially commissioned, such as impressive two-page color spreads of the arms and clothing of given types of soldiers from ancient Greece to the present. In many cases, the author provides diagrams of tactical formations, such as those employed by Roman legions and their constituent units, or the modern procedure for entering and securing a room. The main focus of the book is land warfare, but it also looks at iconic services and eras in naval and air warfare, such as the Royal Navy of Nelson's era, and the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Battle of Britain. Non-Western militaries are represented by, among others, Maori, Zulus, and pre-Columbian American peoples. The book is organized chronologically, with detailed models of troop types during the given periods. The organization is a bit cumbersome, but this is a minor quibble. The wealth of visual content makes reading a delight, while the text neither promises nor delivers any new insights but provides a concise and informative overview of the development of military equipment and related tactics. Recommended for public libraries as a standalone or in addition to Grant's previous entries in this handsome DK series, Battleand Weapon.
Editorials
Library Journal
The first thing to note is that this is a beautiful book, with illustrations on every page; most are in color, and many are spectacular. The primary subject is the equipment of fighting men-members of both organized armies and warrior bands. Some of the images used are familiar, and others have been specially commissioned, such as impressive two-page color spreads of the arms and clothing of given types of soldiers from ancient Greece to the present. In many cases, the author provides diagrams of tactical formations, such as those employed by Roman legions and their constituent units, or the modern procedure for entering and securing a room. The main focus of the book is land warfare, but it also looks at iconic services and eras in naval and air warfare, such as the Royal Navy of Nelson's era, and the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Battle of Britain. Non-Western militaries are represented by, among others, Maori, Zulus, and pre-Columbian American peoples. The book is organized chronologically, with detailed models of troop types during the given periods. The organization is a bit cumbersome, but this is a minor quibble. The wealth of visual content makes reading a delight, while the text neither promises nor delivers any new insights but provides a concise and informative overview of the development of military equipment and related tactics. Recommended for public libraries as a standalone or in addition to Grant's previous entries in this handsome DK series, Battleand Weapon.
—Richard Fraser